The Middle Ages saw the birth of Scotland.
This land had been under constant attack from Norsemen, Picts, Britons,
Celts, and Angles, but Kenneth Macalpine, King of Scots, in 843 united
clans and declared himself ruler of Scotia. He took the Stone of Destiny
to Scone to be used for his coronation. This stone is traditionally regarded
as the pillow Jacob used when he dreamt of a ladder carrying angels between
heaven and earth. Generations of Scottish kings were crowned on a throne
that housed this stone.

William the Lion's ill-fated expedition to
capture Northumberland in 1174 led to the humiliating Treaty of Falaise
that placed Scotland under English rule. This rule was increasingly severe
through the time of Edward I, who named himself overlord of Scotland.
Scots patriot William Wallace, whose exploits were later immortalized
in the movie Braveheart, resisted Edward and was later executed for this.
Robert the Bruce went to Scone castle in 1306 and had himself named King,
and went on to defeat Edward II's forces at Bannockburn in 1314 and win
back Scottish independence.

One of the oldest surviving Gaelic manuscripts
is known as The Book of Deer is a tenth century illuminated manuscript
from North East Scotland. This is the only pre-Norman manuscript from
this area and its Latin text and Celtic illuminations give unique insights
into the early church, culture and society of the Middle Ages.